What is a cliche, and what is its purpose

The answers to the question about what a cliche is, a few, since the word is multi-valued. All interpretations, however, come from a lexeme borrowed from the French language - clicher, which translates as "a stereotype, a copy."

Two meanings of the word

In the language reference books, information about what a cliche is, is given in accordance with the two main spheres of use of this word. The first, immediate, meaning - a relief pattern on the material (wood, plastic, metal, etc.), from which you can make a graphic print. Such an image was created by means of engraving, threading, electroforming and other less common methods of obtaining a convex, projecting plane or drawing. Later such forms began to be made by zincography. A specially made form with which you can make an impression - that's what a printing cliche is. Clichés used to print illustrations, as well as large-circulation prints.

The second meaning of the word cliché is portable. This is how words or whole phrases are called, differing in banal, well-known meaning. That's what a speech cliche is. Stereotyped expressions are often referred to as speech stamps. And here, too, is used quite literally a lexeme in a figurative sense: a stamp is an instrument of a given form, with the help of which an impression is made, mainly on documents. In this phrase, as in the concepts of "beaten formula", "template thinking", the language captures the main functional feature of words denoting a fixed standard, and uses it in a metaphor to impart a vivid lexical color.

Some varieties of speech clichés

In more detail, consider what a cliche is in speech. Among the model samples, models of speech use are singled out in specific, specific situations and groups. Their clichés exist both in official and informal environments.

For example, the ideological clichés are called the template language formulas used by politicians, journalists describing politics and state activity. Such phrases are often found in the programs of parties and political groups. The main task of such cliches is to give a concise definition and assessment to political events and individuals. Close to them are adjacent propaganda cliches, which are used to manipulate the public consciousness.

Time changes - verbal formulas change

In the recent Soviet era there were known to every cliche: "Lenin's work lives and wins", "the general line of the party" and the like. With regard to America and Europe, hefty designs like "NATO minions", "hirelings of capital" and "pernicious influence of the West" were used. At a time when the country in the person of then-leader Nikita Khrushchev condemned the Stalinist paradigm of government, new cliches appeared-the "cult of personality", the "Khrushchev thaw". Then there was perestroika, the state was oriented to "Western values" and new clichés were heard: "democratic lighthouse", "yellow press", "ruble voting", etc.

What is a cliche in literature?

These are well-established themes and motives, characteristic most of all for samples of oral creativity. A hero, who is regarded by everyone around as a fool and a slobber, becomes a winner thanks to ingenuity, courage and patience. The most beautiful heroine will certainly be the winner's wife. The rich are stupid and stupid to the point of absurdity. Those in whose hands power and control are concentrated are usually inert and cowardly, and at the end they are disgraced. These are the cliched motifs of folklore. As an example, you can quote and say, the reasons, endings of folk tales: "Once upon a time ..."; "And I was there, honey-beer drank, my mustache flowed, but it did not get into my mouth"; "And they began to live, live and make good money."

In a creative environment, cliches are perceived negatively and ridiculed. This is not surprising: art is based on creative imagination and the creation of something new. But often the art uses standard plot forms to create the expected effect of viewers or readers. For example, the plot move, when defenseless heroes are saved in the final, and the negative heroes are killed, is an unquestionable (and justifiable from the point of view of the mass audience) artistic cliche.

What is a cliché in an examination paper

A useful service standard word formulas can serve to compose a text or construct an oral response in an exam.

Suppose we identified a problem in a particular area of science, culture or sociology and want to point out its relevance. Then it is possible to use such speech cliches: "This problem is important (acute, acute, significant) in a modern market economy (against the background of the need to preserve traditional values, in the context of the rule of law, overcoming the moral crisis, etc.).

Formulating the main idea, you can use such cliches as "I believe ...", "I'm sure that ...", "agree that ...".

If we decide to justify our point of view, using the author's quotation who spoke on this issue, we can adopt the following formulations: "My opinion coincides with the idea of saying such a thinker (political scientist, economist, art critic) that ..." ; "In my opinion, it is very accurate (capacious, eloquent, expressive) said about this author somehow ..."; "One can not disagree with the statement of such and such an author that ..."; "The author was right about this, asserting that ...".

In conclusion, we must sum up what has been said. We will use such, for example, clichés: "To sum up, I will note that ..."; "We can draw a conclusion ..."; "From all that has been said, it follows that ...".

So, the word "cliché" has two meanings. The main one is a form for typographical printing, and portable is a standard language formulation, a beaten sentence, a stereotyped plot, a motive, a theme.